Luke Carter allegedly robs Bunnings Warehouse, Toyworld, Big W

Crafty men have allegedly stolen more than $10,300 from Bunnings Warehouse stores — and their tactics involved long blonde wigs.

The pair allegedly wheeled the goods out of the stores. (Generic photo)

A crafty duo have allegedly wheeled more than $10,300 items out of Bunnings Warehouse stores on top of stealing $8000 goods during three other attacks on retailers.

Luke Carter fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on December 11, facing a range of charges including burglary and possessing cartridge ammunition.

The 34-year-old worked with another Mill Park man to allegedly steal trolley loads of items from Bunnings Warehouse stores around Victoria from August 20 to November 10.

The pair — who allegedly wore blonde shoulder length wigs on one occasion — allegedly managed the thefts by escaping out stores’ emergency exits and cutting through gates and padlocks in stores’ outdoor areas.

Their plans were allegedly successful on hits at Bunnings Warehouse’s Eltham, Caroline Springs, Narre Warren, Torquay, Wodonga and Kangaroo Flat shops.

But the pair allegedly had to abandon their trolleys of goods — with one containing almost $3800 of items — at the Leopold and Echuca stores after staff’s presence stopped them cutting their way out.

Carter and his accomplice also allegedly stole from three other businesses during their two and a half month thieving spree.

They allegedly managed to get away with a $3495 television from Thomastown’s Good Guys store by distracting the employee at the loading dock with a request to locate a bogus order.

They allegedly nicked $2219.95 of Lego from Preston Toyworld and $2400 of speakers from Sunbury Big W by running out the emergency exits.

Carter was arrested at his home on November 12.

The court heard the actual total amount Carter had allegedly stolen was unknown because not all stores could account for all their losses, but it was at least $10,300.

It was heard Carter, who was unemployed and had long battled ice addiction, had told police his drug addiction cost him $500 a day.

Police argued Carter was an unacceptable risk of offending if released on bail.

But his lawyer pushed for him to be released, saying Carter could spend longer on remand than he might be sentenced to if found guilty of the crimes due to delays on the court system caused by COVID-19.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek agreed, with Carter having already spent a month in custody.

He granted bail with strict conditions, including the supervision of the Court Integrated Services Program.